PDF (Lessons learned in drug abuse prevention: a global review)

1. Introduction
1.1 Background
The 1998 United Nations General Assembly Special Session Devoted to Countering the
World Drug Problem Together (UNGASS) brought about a new global focus on efforts
to tackle the world drug problem. Member States recognised that reducing the
demand for drugs was essential to a stepped-up global effort to fight drug abuse and
trafficking, and as a result committed themselves, to reducing significantly both the
supply of and demand for drugs by 2008 - as expressed in the Political Declaration
adopted during UNGASS. Member States also adopted the Declaration on the Guiding
Principles of Drug Demand Reduction 1 . Within the framework of this new emphasis on
drug demand reduction approaches, increased attention is given to the issue of
prevention of drug abuse as a key component of demand reduction.
For many Governments, the issue of demand reduction is a relatively new area.
Consequently, a great need for information and technical assistance is often expressed
by those who are planning, designing, commissioning or carrying out actual drug
abuse prevention projects. Many countries have yet to address the formulation of a
policy or strategy to tackle prevention and demand reduction, and information in relation
to effective policy and practice is not always readily accessible and available. This report
is a step to help countries achieve the goals set out in the Political Declaration (Box 1),
and to meet their need for practical information and technical assistance.
The Action Plan for implementing the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug
Demand Reduction (Box 1) called for national, regional and international action in
order to meet its various objectives. With a view to the efforts and initiatives required
at the international level, the Action Plan calls directly upon the UNDCP and other
relevant international and regional organisations to provide guidance and assistance to
those requesting it and to facilitate the sharing of information on best strategies 2 .
On behalf of UNDCP, the Mentor Foundation has produced this report in response
to the call for international action to assist and guide drug demand reduction, and, in
particular, drug abuse prevention policy development. This report highlights the experiences
of existing drug abuse prevention project initiatives in order to inform national
drug abuse prevention strategies and policies around the world.
The interplay between practice and policy is manifold. It should, however, be emphasised
that the process by which policy shapes and determines the practices developed and
implemented in a country can also work in reverse: practice, and in particular the
lessons that have been learned through implementing project initiatives, can provide a
sound basis for policy development. Through consideration of the lessons that have
been learned from practice, both policy and further practice can be developed in a way
that makes effective approaches more likely. This process helps avoid the unnecessary
duplication of efforts and the costs of repeating poor experiences, and enables the
channelling of resources into those areas that are more likely to work or at least show
some promise.
“This report is a step to
help countries achieve
the goals set out in the
Political Declaration
(Box 1), and to meet
their need for practical
information and
technical assistance.”
“Through consideration
of the lessons that have
been learned from
practice, both policy and
further practice can be
developed in a way
that makes effective
approaches more likely.”
1 Special Session of the General Assembly Devoted to Countering the World Drug Problem Together, 8-10 June
1998: Political Declaration; Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction; and Measures to Enhance
International Cooperation to Counter the World Drug Problem.
2 United Nations Resolution adopted by the 54th General Assembly Session. Agenda item 108. February 2002.
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